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DVLA cancelled driving licence after 32yrs; d.o.b. error !
A friend of mine recently applied to have his driving licence replaced; he lost his original licence whilst on holiday.
He’s held the same full clean licence since he passed his test 32 years ago, aged 20.
He was asked by the DVLA to provide proof of identity by sending his birth certificate, passport, Nat.Insurance details et al, which he duly did.
However, it appears that the DVLA records are incorrect; they have his date of birth recorded as 03.10.63 whilst his actual date of birth is 10.03.63.
This discrepancy has gone completely unnoticed for 32 years,….quite where the error occurred is anyone’s guess.
As a consequence the DVLA have told my mate that he has been driving illegally for the past 32 years and they have cancelled his FULL licence!
They have issued him with a provisional licence and told him to appeal the decision; the appeal process can take anything from 3 to 4 months!......the guy on the DVLA help-desk ‘laughingly’ advised him that he would probably be quicker to sit his theory & practical test rather than wait for the outcome of his appeal.
My friend needs his driving licence for his job;….. his employers are about to dismiss him because he is now unable to drive!
It seems mightily harsh considering his d.o.b. is correct on his other ‘official’ records i.e. HMRC, Nat.Insurance, Pensions, Passport, Birth Certificate, Council records, Electoral list,…..all of which pre-date his driving licence!
It’s not as if ‘older’ driving licences actually show the drivers d.o.b. in a form that’s easily recognisable;….otherwise it may have been spotted at the outset.
On older paper licences (mine included) the ONLY place the d.o.b. information appears is in the ‘driver licence number’ section,…. and then it’s encrypted.
I have advised him to write (by registered delivery) to the ‘Sensitive Claims Dept’ at the DVLA and explain his dilemma. The DVLA general help-desk were of no ‘help’ whatsoever.
Anyone know how this matter could be expedited in a more timely manner. My poor mate is at his wits end.
All advice gratefully received.
He’s held the same full clean licence since he passed his test 32 years ago, aged 20.
He was asked by the DVLA to provide proof of identity by sending his birth certificate, passport, Nat.Insurance details et al, which he duly did.
However, it appears that the DVLA records are incorrect; they have his date of birth recorded as 03.10.63 whilst his actual date of birth is 10.03.63.
This discrepancy has gone completely unnoticed for 32 years,….quite where the error occurred is anyone’s guess.
As a consequence the DVLA have told my mate that he has been driving illegally for the past 32 years and they have cancelled his FULL licence!
They have issued him with a provisional licence and told him to appeal the decision; the appeal process can take anything from 3 to 4 months!......the guy on the DVLA help-desk ‘laughingly’ advised him that he would probably be quicker to sit his theory & practical test rather than wait for the outcome of his appeal.
My friend needs his driving licence for his job;….. his employers are about to dismiss him because he is now unable to drive!
It seems mightily harsh considering his d.o.b. is correct on his other ‘official’ records i.e. HMRC, Nat.Insurance, Pensions, Passport, Birth Certificate, Council records, Electoral list,…..all of which pre-date his driving licence!
It’s not as if ‘older’ driving licences actually show the drivers d.o.b. in a form that’s easily recognisable;….otherwise it may have been spotted at the outset.
On older paper licences (mine included) the ONLY place the d.o.b. information appears is in the ‘driver licence number’ section,…. and then it’s encrypted.
I have advised him to write (by registered delivery) to the ‘Sensitive Claims Dept’ at the DVLA and explain his dilemma. The DVLA general help-desk were of no ‘help’ whatsoever.
Anyone know how this matter could be expedited in a more timely manner. My poor mate is at his wits end.
All advice gratefully received.
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Comments
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What a nightmare. Get him to contact his MP. But if I were him I'd probably take the test ASAP just in case the appeal takes too long. Then he can try to claim costs back from the DVLA. Since he took the test so long ago when it was easy he should take some driving tuition before the practical test. Most people on the road don't actually know all the rules (or they know them but ignore them).Changing the world, one sarcastic comment at a time.0
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Maybe in view of this (and the length of time involved in a DVLA complaint resolution) he should attempt to preserve his job by taking leave/unpaid leave and getting a full licence by way of a test ASAP and sort out the DVLA in the fullness of time - if his complaint wins he can go for compensation for all the cost involved.My friend needs his driving licence for his job;….. his employers are about to dismiss him because he is now unable to drive!
This assumes his employer is able to insure a brand new driver(which is what he will be with a new licence)0 -
What a nightmare. Get him to contact his MP. But if I were him I'd probably take the test ASAP just in case the appeal takes too long. Then he can try to claim costs back from the DVLA. Since he took the test so long ago when it was easy he should take some driving tuition before the practical test. Most people on the road don't actually know all the rules (or they know them but ignore them).Maybe in view of this (and the length of time involved in a DVLA complaint resolution) he should attempt to preserve his job by taking leave/unpaid leave and getting a full licence by way of a test ASAP and sort out the DVLA in the fullness of time - if his complaint wins he can go for compensation for all the cost involved.
This assumes his employer is able to insure a brand new driver(which is what he will be with a new licence)
Thanks for the replies;
….his employers stipulate that employees are over 21 (which he obviously is) and that they’ve held a full licence for 12 months !.....oh dear.
It’s certainly something of a nightmare;……he still has school-age children to support and is about to lose his job,……all courtesy of the DVLA. :mad:
The whole thing is bonkers.0 -
Whenever the DVLA appear on a programme complaining about how rubbish they are, they always insist they 'never make mistakes', which is clearly impossible given the volume of licences and registration documents they must handle.
Over the last 20 years I've had about a 33% error rate on the various V5 documents.
Addresses wrong. Names wrong. I've even had the number of keepers added to even when it's just the address that has changed (because they've mistyped the name they then seem to automatically assume it's a transfer to a new keeper!).
The thing is, they ask you to optionally put your licence number on the V5 and STILL manage to get the name or address spelling incorrect when it should be taken from the licence.
Sorry, I can't be any help giving your colleague advice other than to point out that they are fallible... and hence not to be fobbed off...0 -
Any legal cover held with motor or home insurance? Your friend needs a 'motoring' solicitor ASAP.
Plus, get the local MP involved too.:hello:0 -
WellKnownSid wrote: »Whenever the DVLA appear on a programme complaining about how rubbish they are, they always insist they 'never make mistakes', which is clearly impossible given the volume of licences and registration documents they must handle.
Over the last 20 years I've had about a 33% error rate on the various V5 documents.
Addresses wrong. Names wrong. I've even had the number of keepers added to even when it's just the address that has changed (because they've mistyped the name they then seem to automatically assume it's a transfer to a new keeper!).
The thing is, they ask you to optionally put your licence number on the V5 and STILL manage to get the name or address spelling incorrect when it should be taken from the licence.
Sorry, I can't be any help giving your colleague advice other than to point out that they are fallible... and hence not to be fobbed off...
Do not do this. Those low-lifes at DVLA do not need to link vehicles to drivers.
Let's just put the DVLA into some sort of context. If you happened to walk down the street and came across a large, dirty stinking heap of dog muck, just laid by a Great Dane, that's the equivalent of the DVLA. The whole organisation is beneath contempt, as this case clearly shows.
I can only suggest your mate takes it up with his MP, urgently. You will get no help from the ace'oles at the DVLA.0 -
How old is your licence then ? Mine is from 1990 and clearly has my date of birth on it under the heading "date of birth". On photocards it is not quite so obvious but a date with the full year of birth in it should give it away. A day of birth less than 12 was always going to cause a problem once those Merkins and their 'puters started running things.It’s not as if ‘older’ driving licences actually show the drivers d.o.b. in a form that’s easily recognisable;….otherwise it may have been spotted at the outset.
On older paper licences (mine included) the ONLY place the d.o.b. information appears is in the ‘driver licence number’ section,…. and then it’s encrypted.0 -
WellKnownSid wrote: »Whenever the DVLA appear on a programme complaining about how rubbish they are, they always insist they 'never make mistakes', which is clearly impossible given the volume of licences and registration documents they must handle.
The DVLA have estimated and published their error rates.
"Our most recent estimate on the percentage of driver records that
contain errors where the error originated within DVLA is 2 %."
So that's getting on for a million errors caused by the DVLAChange is inevitable, except from a vending machine.0 -
1) Have the DVLA actually accused him of committing a crime?
"As a consequence the DVLA have told my mate that he has been driving illegally for the past 32 years and they have cancelled his FULL licence!"
Did they state this in a letter? Did they state that they would be noting this on their records? Did they state that they would be informing the police?
If they have done any of that, then he MUST go to the police NOW & lay out HIS case.I am being accused by DVLA that I have been committing a crime. I wish to place it on record that I refute the allegation, that no crime has been committed, & that the basis of their allegation is their own error.
2) He needs to find a copy of his licence that shows the incorrect details (does work have a copy, has anywhere taken a copy, insurer perhaps?)
Get copies of all relevant documents that show how long he's been insured for, when employer checked his licence etc
Ever had an International Driving Permit? Any recent hire car use?
Basically anything that proves that he has done everything legally.
3) He needs a letter from his employer stating that they will be dismissing him due to not having a driving licence
"My friend needs his driving licence for his job;….. his employers are about to dismiss him because he is now unable to drive!"
4) Take 2 & 3 to his MP
5) Write to DVLA requesting ALL records they have for him
There should be a record of his passing a driving test!
6) Inform his insurance company, but remembering to state that it is a DVLA error
They may also have legal assistance available0 -
However, it appears that the DVLA records are incorrect; they have his date of birth recorded as 03.10.63 whilst his actual date of birth is 10.03.63.
This discrepancy has gone completely unnoticed for 32 years,….quite where the error occurred is anyone’s guess.
As a consequence the DVLA have told my mate that he has been driving illegally for the past 32 years and they have cancelled his FULL licence!
They have issued him with a provisional licence and told him to appeal the decision; the appeal process can take anything from 3 to 4 months!......the guy on the DVLA help-desk ‘laughingly’ advised him that he would probably be quicker to sit his theory & practical test rather than wait for the outcome of his appeal.
If theyve cancelled his original licence, & are alleging that he was committing a crime, then why would they issue a new one?
Surely the issuing of a new provisional to him, & stating that he can get a new full one by passing the test again, is the DVLA admitting fault & that the error is theirs?
Therefore they should not have cancelled the original licence. *
* I know this isn't how the DVLA & the rest of the public sector 'thinks', but theyre always wrong!0
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